Author: Biology Junction Team

How to Find Main ideas

 

Steps in Reading to Find the Main Idea

 

The main idea in a piece of writing is the point the author is making about a topic. Use the following steps to find the main idea.

 

Preview

 

Look for meaning clues in introductions, titles, chapter headings, subheadings, bold words, boxed information, pictures, charts, and graphs. This will help you discover the topic being discussed (what the writing is about), the author’s “slant” or perspective on the topic how the material is organized, and what’s more and less important. During previewing you may also form questions about the topic. Having questions in mind as you read will help you establish a purpose for reading, and you will be more involved as you read, which will help you absorb new information.

Read

 

Read the entire text, looking for the general idea or ideas being presented. Re-read to find and highlight key words and concepts.

 

Focus

 

Focus on individual paragraphs within the text, starting at the beginning. Generally, each paragraph in a piece of writing about a topic is a group of sentences dealing with one idea related to that topic. The following steps will help you find the main idea in a paragraph, the particular point the author is trying to make about the topic.

 

Look for transition words

 

Words and phrases such as “thus,” “first,” “next,” “however,” and “in addition,” often indicate shifts in thought and signal the presence of examples and supporting details.

 

Identify the most general statement

 

Sometimes the main idea of a paragraph is directly stated in a sentence, called the topic sentence of the paragraph. Although it is often found at the beginning or end, the topic sentence can be found anywhere in the paragraph. It is typically the most general sentence, and the remaining sentences provide specific evidence and discussion to “back up” the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.

 

Look for supporting evidence and discussion

 

Sometimes the main idea is not directly stated in one sentence but is implied or suggested by all of the sentences in the paragraph. In this case, the reader must provide the main idea by considering all of the support–the examples, details, facts, etc.–and discussion about the topic provided by the writer. The main idea will be a general statement which incorporates the information presented by all of the sentences in the paragraph.

BACK

Outlining

 

HOW TO OUTLINE

An outline presents a picture of the main ideas and the supporting ideas of a paragraph. The skill of outlining will help you organize and remember what you hear or read. Outlining means to write information in order, from the most important to the least important. Main topics, subtopics and details are the important parts of an outline. Outlining will help you learn how to take notes notes and remember the main ideas of what you’ve read.

 

I. Title    An outline always has a title that tells you what the outline is about.

 

II.  Main Topics (Use the heading of each chapter section for these)

 

Use Roman numerals for each main topic. Write each main topic in the same way. Write in sentences or phrases, but capitalize the first word. A main topic is a very important idea and is comparable to the headings in textbooks. Below are Roman numerals for your review.

  • I = 1
  • II = 2
  • III = 3
  • IV = 4
  • V = 5
  • VI = 6
  • VII = 7
  • VIII = 8
  • IX = 9
  • X =10

 

II.  Subtopics

 

Use a capital letter before each subtopic: A,B,C,etc. Indent subtopics under the main topics. Subtopics give more information about the main topic.

III. Details

Use an Arabic numeral for each detail under subtopics: 1.2.3.etc. Indent details under subtopics. A detail is an extra piece of information that helps make the subtopic clearer.

Sample Outline Format:

Title

  I. Main topic

A. Subtopic

  1. Detail

           a. Sub-detail

              1) Additional details

            b. Second Sub-detail

      2. Second Detail

B. Next Subtopic

What your outline must have:

1. Main idea of each paragraph (UNDERLINED)

2. New vocabulary in bold print (CIRCLED)

3. Answers to all section objectives (NUMBERED & WRITTEN IN RED INK))

4. All assigned charts/tables WITHIN EACH SECTION

5. All assigned labeled drawings WITHIN THE RIGHT SECTION & NOT AT THE END!

PRINT OUTLINING SHEET MODERN BIOLOGY

PRINT OUTLINING SHEET PRENTICE HALL

Sample Outline

 

Cornell Notes

Name: Date:
Topic: Class/Subject:

 

Connections Column Notes Column
In this column, write one of the following:

  • Heading or Subheadings
  • Questions from reading
  • Vocabulary
 In this column, write the following:
  • Topic of each paragraph
  • Main idea of each paragraph(s)
  • Bold, underlined, or italicized words & their meaning
  • Answers to questions
  • Supporting ideas & information
  • Examples
In this column also, use these hints to faster note taking:
  • Abbreviate familiar words
  • Use symbols when possible (+, =, )
  • Take notes in bullets!
  • Cut unnecessary words
Summary: Summarize what you read/lecture; write the 5 most important points of the section/lecture; &/or write questions you still have to answer.

Click here for blank note sheet

Click here for sample lecture note sheet

Notebooks

Biology Notebooks

All Materials © Cmassengale

Special Instructions:

  1. Use a 1-2″, 3-ring binder as your notebook.
  2. The cover of your notebook should have your name , subject, & period only! Do not include any other writing, pictures, etc
  3. A master cover sheet with your name & period must be clipped into your notebook as the first sheet.
  4. Dividers with tabs labeled with the name of each section must be included.
  5. All papers must be clipped into the notebook in the correct order.
  6. Notebooks must be brought to class each day!
  7. Students will only receive credit for their notebook each nine weeks IF it is kept in order!

Notebook Sections:

SECTION 1 – HANDOUTS to BE SAVED ALL YEAR

  • Materials needed, class rules, notebook guidelines, How to write lab reports, how to write 3-point essays, Essays and Due dates

SECTION 2 – CHAPTER WORK 

  • Include a cover sheet for each chapter with its number & title
  • Chapter work should be in the following order — outlines/notes 1st, handouts 2nd, puzzles/worksheets 3rd, study guides last
  • Each sheet must have the chapter & title and your name, date, & period

SECTION 4 – COMPUTERIZED GRADE REPORTS

  • Printed from computer by teacher approximately every 3 weeks